Although it had a reputation of being an industrial city, Cardiff has changed dramatically in recent decades. It is now a lively and modern capital city, gaining popularity with tourists interested in its history and in Welsh culture and is quickly becoming one of the United Kingdom's tourism hot spots. Summer is by far the best time to visit as the city hosts large festivals with al fresco dining and drinking becoming ever more popular due to large areas of pedestrianisation. The city centre has seen huge development over the last decade and is now considered one of the top ten shopping destinations in the United Kingdom.

Cardiff is a very green city, having the most green space per person in the UK, and this is complemented by Bute Park which sits in the heart of the city. It has a reputation as a city of castles, having 5 different castles within its surroundings. The city's core population stands at roughly 345,000, with 860,000 living in the larger urban area.

Understand

Cardiff is on the south coast of the south Wales plain, with a shoreline on the Bristol Channel. Cardiff is quite a flat city, a characteristic that helped it become one of the world's leading ports for the transport of coal from the rugged south Wales Valleys.

City

Cardiff's city centre is in the southern portion of the city just north of Cardiff Bay. It is traditionally centred at the castle, bounded to the north by the historic civic centre, large Bute park arboretum and university buildings, by the River Taff to the west, and by the Valleys and National rail lines to the east and south respectively. Growth in recent years, however, is pushing the city centre beyond these boundaries, especially in regards to commercial office and residential provision.

History

Cardiff's history follows its castle which has been occupied for over 2,000 years when the Romans created a fort on the river Taff (where the name may have come from 'Caer' = fort, on the 'Taff'); the fort's original walls can still be seen highlighted around the base of Cardiff Castle's walls. In Medieval times the castle grew, and a small town spread from its south gate, the medieval street pattern can still be seen around High Street. In the 15th century the town was destroyed by the last great Welsh Prince Owain Glyndwr. Successive owners fortified the castle and the town timidly grew, until the industrial revolution when the 2nd Marquess of Bute built the Glamorganshire canal to transport coal from the Welsh valleys through Cardiff's docks.

Combined with the later arrival of the railways, Cardiff's population exploded and the docks grew to become the largest coal exporting port in the world. At its peak, the price of the world's coal was determined at Cardiff's Coal Exchange and the first ever £1,000,000 cheque was written here in 1901 (equivalent to £77,837,000 today). Cardiff was the 3rd largest port of the British Empire resulting in Edward VII granting Cardiff city status in 1905. With the rise of the city's fortunes the Marquis of Bute transformed Cardiff castle into a fairytale gothic palace, donating land to build the truly impressive civic centre which contains the City Hall, National Museum, university and government buildings, all built in elaborate neo-classical Baroque styles out of expensive white Portland stone.

Cardiff was lucky not to have its city centre heavily bombed like other industrial cities during WWII, and was spared the worst excesses of the post war rebuilding, so a stroll around throws up many contrasts in eras and designs. It may surprise people that Wales (Cymru) did not have a de jure capital until 1955, when Cardiff was chosen as the outstanding candidate as largest city. However, with the post-War decline of coal, the city's docks became increasingly abandoned, and in the 90's the city's transformation began with the building of a barrage to stop the worlds second largest tidal range from revealing dirty mud flats, and creating what is today Europe's largest waterfront regeneration project. The Bay today is a mixture of apartments, sport, leisure and culture and its success has also seen a rejuvenation of the city centre, where large scale pedestrianisation and the recent massive St David's redevelopment have created a vibrant city, combining the best of the old, sitting close to modern architecture and amenities. As for the Castle, it was handed over to the people of Cardiff, and is now a major tourist, corporate and cultural attraction, an indication of where the city's future lies.

Profile

Beautiful civic centre fronted by city hall (left), National Museum of Wales (right) and the law courts, Cardiff

Cardiff has a strong sporting and cultural presence given that it is the capital city, and therefore plays host to most Welsh sporting events, especially since the opening of the Millennium Stadium in the city centre. In fact one of the city's charms is when it plays host to matches, the city centre atmosphere can be extraordinary, being swelled by 75,000 attendees and thousands of revellers.

In the past it was quite a gritty city with the port and industry playing a huge role, Cardiff's ports were once amongst the most important in the world. Notable milestones were when Cardiff Bay (sometimes called Tiger Bay) was the first area of modern Britain to be thought of as a multicultural area given the huge part immigrants played in the city's ports, and the world's first 'million pound' deal was also signed at the Bay's own Coal Exchange building.

In the past few decades however, the city has moved away from its industrial past and has been transformed by developments such as Cardiff Bay, which now hosts famous and striking landmarks such as the National Assembly for Wales and the spectacular Wales Millennium Centre. Massive investments have also been made throughout other parts of the city, such as the opening of the Millennium Stadium and massive Saint David's shopping centre.

When to go

Cardiff is best to visit during late spring to early autumn as the warm weather adds to the city's pleasures and allows maximum experience of all the sites and areas of the city, although the city usually benefits from mild weather all year round, with notable exceptions.

Get in

By plane

The main airport is Cardiff International Airport. This is the only major airport in Wales and is situated some 12 miles to the south-west of the city in the Vale of Glamorgan. The airport is served by a number of airlines including Flybe, KLM [8], Thomsonfly [9] and Skybus [10]. KLM provide worldwide links to Cardiff via Schipol (Amsterdam, NL). Domestic services operate daily to Anglesey, Belfast, Newcastle, Newquay, Jersey, Glasgow and Edinburgh. As for European routes, Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Dublin, and many other holiday routes such as Faro, Palma de Mallorca and Alicante, operate daily. The T9 bus operates an express service between the airport, Cardiff City Centre and Cardiff Bay, every 20 minutes from 04:00 to 23:00, 7 days a week. A single journey is £5 and return is £8.

By train

Cardiff Central railway station is a major hub for many services and is in an ideal location being very close to the main city centre attractions and is in close proximity to Cardiff Bay. Arriva Trains Wales [12] operate the vast majority of inter-Wales services with regular departures from Cardiff Central to the South Wales Valleys, Swansea, and a frequent service to North Wales. They also operate regularly to Manchester and Birmingham making Cardiff ideal to visit via rail. All inter-city travel is via Cardiff Central while Cardiff Queen Street station near the eastern end of the city centre is the hub for Cardiff's Valley Lines services, connecting the centre of the city with the suburbs and commuter towns. Both stations are controlled by ticket barriers, so you will need a ticket to enter or leave the platforms. Ticket machines are in the entrance of both stations and in Central station there are many maps that will help you plan your journey.

Cardiff Central is two hours from London Paddington by train, however some may take longer with more stops. Trains depart half hourly during the day and are operated by First Great Western [13]. These services also continue hourly to Swansea. First Great Western run a service from Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour via Newport, Bristol, Bath and Southampton.

Rail service provides quick and easy links to other interesting areas (such as the Vale of Glamorgan and West Wales), making Cardiff a pleasant and cheaper place to use as a home base while exploring the surrounding areas.

The city itself has around 22 train stations within its boundaries, with travel to North Cardiff especially accessible, Travel to tourist attractions such as Cardiff Bay, Castell Coch and Barry Island can be easily and cost effectively reached by train or bus.

By car

From London and the South East of England, Cardiff is most swiftly reached by taking the M4 motorway west across the Severn Bridge and into Wales. Journey times from Central London to Cardiff are usually 3 hours, although visitors from Heathrow could shave up to an hour off this time. Don't forget the bridge charges a toll to cross See [14] for up-to-date information on toll charges. The M4 is also the main artery linking Cardiff with West Wales including Swansea, while the A470 road mainly links Cardiff with the South Wales Valleys. Traveling from North or Central England and Scotland the M50 links the M5 motorway with Wales and continues down to south Wales eventually linking with the M4.
Cardiff's junctions are 29 - 34 inclusive.

Within Cardiff, it is cheaper to find a train station and continue onto the city centre via train, as car parking within the city although plentiful, can be expensive. Getting around the city by car is straightforward, even within the city centre, it is quite easy moving around; although, it's best to restrict entering the city centre area during off-peak times as congestion can occur at rush hour like any city. Generally though, the city centre is pretty compact and its much easier and cheaper to move around on foot.

By bus

National Express [16] operate regular services to and from most other major cities in Britain with Cardiff Central bus station, which is in the forecourt of Central railway station, making it quite easy to switch between train and bus. In addition, Megabus [17] offers a regular and very cheap service to London and departs from Kingsway near the Hilton Hotel. Cardiff is about 3 hours, depending on traffic, from London. Megabus also runs to Newcastle, and on Wednesdays costs £5 for any route in England and Wales. You can also get the Megabus to Rosslare, Ireland from Cardiff, including ferry crossing. Greyhound buses also run from from Cardiff Central bus station to Bristol Airport.

Get around

On foot

The Hayes and massive new extension to the St Davids shopping arcade, Cardiff

Cardiff, especially the central area, is pretty compact with the main attractions being quite close to each other making getting around on foot quite easy. Most sights are signposted to help you guide your way around the city centre and the bay.

By bike

The city's flatness makes cycling fairly painless, especially around the Bay and City Centre (including Bute Park). The Taff Trail and Ely Trail provide mainly off-road paths through the city and beyond. Most parts of the city provide pleasant cycling, but some areas are more difficult due to heavy traffic or no-cycling pedestrianised roads (such as Queen Street).

By bus

Cardiff Bus [18] offer a comprehensive network of services across the city, to the nearby City of Newport and to destinations in the Vale of Glamorgan. Fares are low, but you must have exact change: £1.70 for any adult journey across the city, £3.40 buys an all-day 'Day to Go' pass to travel across the network (including Penarth, Dinas Powys, Llandough, Sully and Wenvoe) all. Another option is the 'Network Dayrider' ticket. This costs £7.70 for an adult ticket but gives unlimited access to any bus travel in South East Wales.

The central bus station is in Central Square, in the forecourt of Central railway station, and maps are readily available to help you plan your journey.

If you are sightseeing in Cardiff during the day and then go to Caerphilly and then Newport, for example, this ticket will cover all that travel.

Cardiff Bus also operate a frequent 'Baycar' service between the city centre and Cardiff Bay, which makes it easy to get between the main attractions and is good value if you do not want to walk. Stagecoach in South Wales, Veolia Transport Cymru and First Cymru also offer regular routes in and around Cardiff and South East Wales.

Open top sightseeing buses operate regularly during the summer season at a price of approximately £8.00/person.

There are also park and ride sites based at County Hall and Crown Way, see National Park and Ride Directory.[19]

By train

It can be quite cost-effective, quick, and easy to visit areas with a local train station, such as Llandaff Cathedral or Penarth Pier as services leave from both Cardiff Central or Queen Street, so check on maps for train services. The wider Cardiff metropolitan area (including Penarth, Taffs Well, Pontypridd and Dinas Powys) contains 26 stations, making train travel a viable alternative in many cases.

By taxi

Cardiff has many taxis:

Capital,☎ +44 29 2077 7777

Celtic, ☎ +44 29 2045 2045

Dragon, ☎ +44 29 2033 3333

Taxis in Cardiff are black and black with a white bonnet. Licensed taxis have a white plate on the rear of the vehicle and can be flagged down on the street.Private hire vehicles are multicoloured and have yellow plates on the rear of the vehicle and can only be prebooked via phone/Internet.

By waterbus

For a different experience, Cardiff Waterbus runs regularly during the summer season between the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Bay and Penarth. Tickets are about £5.

See

Landmarks

Cardiff Castle at the heart of the city

Cardiff Castle, Castle St, ☎ +44 29 2087 8100. fax: +44 29 2023 1417, [20] . Cardiff Castle is a large castle whose foundations are based upon a Roman fort. In the nineteenth century, it was the one of the homes of the Marquis of Bute. The Norman fort in the centre, the Welsh regimental museum and and excavated Roman ruins are open, and tours of the Bute household are available. The Bute part of the castle is quite amazing. The interior was all done in the early 1900s in a very idiosyncratic and interesting style. There is barely an inch that is not adorned with some sort of artistic work. Yet, it is not overwhelming. The craftsmanship is well worth a look. Admission is £8.95 for adults, £6.35 for children and £7.50 for students and seniors. Admission with a tour is £11.95 for adults, £8.50 for children, and £9.95 for students and seniors. There are family group discounts.

The Millennium Stadium, [21]. 74,200-seater stadium opened for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, and now host to the Wales national rugby and football teams. It hosted the FA Cup Final for some years during the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium in London and is still the largest stadium in Europe with a completely retractable roof (good for those rainy days). A must see for any sport lover, tours are available online or at the ticket desk. Tours cost £8.50 for adults.

The Wales Millennium Centre, [22]. An outstanding piece of modern architecture, opened in 2004 by the Queen, the futuristic Wales Millennium Centre is host to opera, dance and West End musicals throughout the year, making it a must see for those who like theatre. Entry is free throughout the year. While entrance to the theatre is charged, free live performances take place in the foyer every lunchtime at 13:00 and before shows in the evening. It currently hosts the exhibition about Cardiff Bays development that used to be house in 'The Tube'

The National Assembly for Wales or the Senedd, Cardiff Bay, [23]. The seat of Wales' national government and was opened on St David's Day, 1 March 2006 by the Queen. Visitors have a chance to see public debates from the viewing gallery or a free tour around the building, which is made out of purely Welsh materials, and was designed by star architect Richard Rogers to be eco-friendly and as open as possible. Entry is free though expect security checks on entrance.

Senedd, Welsh parliament

The Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay, (next to the Assembly). First established in Cardiff Bay to serve the large community of Norwegian sailors working in the docks. Originally elswhere in the bay its main claim to fame is as the place where the author Roald Dahl was christened, but today it is a cafe and art gallery.

Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre, (also known as the Tube). Home to displays and exhibitions on the development of Cardiff Bay as the world's largest port. Entry is free. Closed for work on the BBC drama studios, exhibition in the Millennium Centre.

Llandaff Cathedral, In the ancient 'city of Llandaff', now incorporated into the north west of the city, and is one of the oldest religious sites in Europe. The cathedral dates from 1107 and features some spectacular architecture. After bomb damage in World War II it was very boldly restored; the huge statue of Christ in Majesty by Jacob Epstein tends to divide opinion, but is well worth a look. The surrounding village is an interesting place to explore with a local coal magnate's house (Insole Court) donated to the people of Cardiff and open for visitors. The Ghost tour has really become the thing to do in the area, making it into the Guardian's top 10 list of things to do in the UK.

Castell Coch, [24], (meaning the 'Red Castle' in Welsh). A fairytale castle nestled on a hill overlooking the main gateway into the valleys from Cardiff in the outskirts of the city. Imaginatively reconstruted from ruins for the 3rd Marquis of Bute, its interiors follow the same elaborate designs as Cardiff castle except on a more intimate scale and would not look out of place in Germany. Entry costs £3.60 for adults.

City Hall, the domed roof of City Hall topped by a Dragon is one of the landmarks of Cardiff city centre. Dating from the start of the 20th century, it is built of beautiful white Portland stone and surmounted by many statues. Inside, the marble hall is dominated by statues of Welsh heroes, the main hall has large bronze chandeliers and the main debating chamber sits under the dome. Open to visitors, events may prevent you from seeing all the rooms but a must-see.

Cathays Park (pronounced "kut-AYS") is arguably the worlds most beautiful civic centre, comprising expensive white Portland stone buildings in a range of classical styles, all surrounding the formal gardens of Alexandra Gardens whose center contains the beautiful national war memorial of Wales. Most people stop at the first 3 buildings facing the city center (City Hall, National Museum and Law courts) and fail to experience the architectural beauty and tranquility of the park and surrounding buildings. Most beautiful with the spring blossom.

Bute Park, more a collection of different parks that stretch continuously to the city's edge from the rear of the castle. Bute Park proper is an arboretum and former private grounds of the Bute family who owned the castle.

Pierhead building, (former headquarters of the railway and port authority). Sits between the ultra modern Millennium center and Senedd as a strong contrast and link to Cardiff's glorious past. A beautiful building covered in dragons and heraldry used for permanent and temporary exhibitions about Cardiff's development, and that of the docks.

Caerau Castle Ringwork - A Norman ringwork castle within an older Iron Age hillfort (as at Caer Penrhos). Much of the site has been overgrown with vegetation.

Beaupre Castle - late 13th century building with Tudor additions that make it appear more manor than castle. It is in village of St. Hilary, which lies just south of the A48, a few miles west of Cardiff

Penarth - a Victorian seaside resort, now a suburb south of Cardiff. Known as "the Garden by the Sea”, it has a beautiful, historic pier

Cosmeston Medieval Village is a "living history" medieval village near Lavernock, just outside Cardiff

Penmark Castle - once belonging to the Umfravilles family. Nowadays a part of a 13th century stone curtain wall survives along with a semi-circular tower.

The Point was a church-turned-popular music venue in Cardiff Bay. The Point is situated in the old merchant's quarter of Mount Stuart Square. The square was named after Lord Mount Stuart, who represented Wales in Parliament during the Napoleonic period. The focal point of the square was St. Stephens, constructed around 1900, that would later be turned into The Point.

Museums and galleries

St Fagans National History Museum, [25], free admission (£3.50 car park charge), ☎ +44 29 2057 3500. Known universally as St Fagans (pronounced "FAG-uns") after the village in which it is located, this was named the UK's favourite visitor attraction by Which? magazine in 2011, and is easily Wales's most popular. An open-air museum of reconstructed buildings from all parts of Wales, built in the grounds of St Fagans Castle, an Elizabethan manor house which is also free to wander around. The Castle gardens, dating from the 19th century, are especially beautiful. You may not be able to see everything in a single visit due to the size of the grounds. Great for kids, the bus ride from/to central Cardiff is very pretty.

National Museum Cardiff, [26], free admission. Cathays Park, ☎ +44 29 2039 7951. An excellent collection of paintings, archaeological finds and geological exhibits charting the history of Wales. The art collection is particularly noted for the collection of 19th-century French works assembled by Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, heiresses to a fortune made in exporting coal. This is of international importance and includes works by Rodin, Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh. Children love the dinosaurs and mammoths in the Evolution of Wales section. There is also archaeology from prehistory to the middle ages in the Origins section; there are daily volunteer-led tours of this and the art galleries. Buy parking vouchers here if needed. £4.00 charge for the museum car park.

Techniquest, Cardiff Bay, (near the Millennium Centre), ☎ +44 29 2047-5475, [27], Over 160 science and technology exhibits to entertain the whole family. There is also a Science Theatre and tours of the Universe in the Planetarium. A good opportunity for adults to be big kids. Entry: £7 Adults, £5 children with concessions available for groups.

The Cardiff Story[28], free admission. The Hayes, ☎ +44 29 2078 8334. This is the museum of Cardiff's history, located in the Old Library building, which it shares with the tourist information centre.

Do

Penarth pier, Flat Holm and Steep Holm islands

Relax in Bute Park or in the grounds of the castle, for a break from the hustle of the city centre.

Visit Cardiff Bay a truly cosmopolitan experience full of restaurants, bars and cafes. A really good place for a 'passeggiata' on a Sunday afternoon. Boat rides in the Bay (permanently water-filled since the barrage was built), a few shops, and a children's playground at the far end (near the historic Norwegian church) along with beautiful views across to Penarth.

Take a speed boat ride with thrills and screams as it makes 360 degree turns in the water at 70 mph.

Walk along the bay from Mermaid quay to the barrage (near Penarth) to see for yourself how the water comes into the harbour from the sea. It is a lovely 2 km walk with the harbour on one side of the path and the sea on the other. Some stunning views, not to be missed. If you don't feel like walking you can hire a bicycle (you will come across the rental company on the way) or take a ride on the road train.

At near-by Penarth, cruise the Bristol channel during summer months to the likes of North Devon, Gower Peninsula and even occasionally Pembrokeshire on the paddle steamers Balmoral and Waverly. Penarth to Ilfracombe is particularly spectacular, taking in the massive cliffs of North Devon.

Next to Cardiff Airport, Barry is a port-town, which has a theme park, casino and heritage railway. With the closure of the docks, it has seen a renewed interest of recent times, thanks to a beautiful beach and a popular BBC series, called Gavin & Stacey. The amusement park on Barry Island contains several funrides, and is infact the birthplace of Julia Gillard, Australian PM.

Go on the Taff Trail, some of the sights close to the city centre are breathtaking and the tranquility offers a great contrast to the busy city centre.

Go to the Brecon Beacons. Just 40 minutes from Cardiff, this Welsh National Park is a scenic retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, offering activities such as climbing, paragliding, sailing and many more.

Go for a pint of Cardiff made Brains beer in one of the city centre pubs on a match day at the Millennium Stadium.

Winsers Walks (Walking Group/Leader), Cardiff-based, ☎07977 802360, [2]. Cardiff-based Walking Group/Leader covering Cardiff and South/Mid Wales. Explore Cardiff and the valleys on a led walk and discover the beauty of the Bay, the Beacons and the wonderful castles, coast and countryside we have. Please see website or contact [email protected] for all areas and walks covered or if you'd prefer a 'tailor-made' walk, don't hesitate to ask.

Festivals and events

Cardiff's festivals are increasingly contributing to its development as a major tourist attraction. As most of them are concentrated in the summer months, it is ideal to visit then to make sure that you experience all the attractions and the festivals as an added bonus. Unlike Edinburgh, Cardiff is still pretty cost effective during the summer months so its ideal for those who don't want to go all out!

Cardiff Children's Festival, held in the grounds of Cardiff Castle each year, and hosts a number of events, exhibitions and play areas for children. Entry is usually free.

St David's Day Parade, a parade held on St David's Day the patron saint of Wales (March 1st), every year. Something different so its worth a look.

Cardiff Mardi Gras, one of the UK's biggest gay and lesbian festivals, held every year in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The 2014 event will take place on 16th August.

The Welsh Proms, series of classical concerts takes place at St David's Hall each July. The festival now includes 'Fringe' events, with genres of music from jazz and country to chamber music, folk and jazz.

Metro Weekender, held in Coopers field beside the castle grounds on the August bank holiday.

Winter Wonderland, in Dec-Jan sees an outdoor ice-rink and funfair set up in front of City Hall, open early 'til late to the public.

The Welsh Boat Race, the highlight of the Welsh Universities Rowing Calendar, although far from as established as the long running Oxbridge equivalent. Usually held in late April, the race between Cardiff and Swansea Universities alternates between the River Taff in Cardiff, and River Tawe in Swansea. The current holders of the Blue Ribband mens event are Swansea University.

Cinemas and theatres

Cardiff has some of the best theatre and cinema in Wales and across the UK, covering a huge range including mainstream films, foreign and theatre.

St. David's Hall, city centre. Symphony hall used for orchestral concerts, recitals and other live music and comedy.

The Coal Exchange, Cardiff Bay. Exceptionally important building in Cardiff's history. It once saw 10,000 men scurrying around trading, dictating the world's coal prices. It almost become home to the Welsh Assembly. Converted to host mainly music gigs but drama and art shows too.

Chapter Arts Centre, Canton. Arthouse and alternative cinema.

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Opera and ballet, West End Shows and musicals.

New Theatre, city centre. West End shows.

Sherman Theatre, Cathays. Independent theatre.

Odeon, Cardiff Bay. Mainstream multiplex cinema.

Vue, city centre. Mainstream multiplex cinema.

Cineworld, city centre. Mainstream multiplex cinema.

Concerts

The Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, host to major bands and artists throughout the year.[29].

Look out for events at the Millennium Stadium too.

Smaller gigs can be seen at many venues across the city including Barfly, The Point, Callaghans, Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff Students Union, and Buffalo Bar.

Buy

Morgan Arcade, one of 8 unique Victorian arcades in the city centre, popular for independent shops, cafes and souvenirs

Nicknamed the City of Arcades, Cardiff is a great place for shopping in style and the Victorian arcades are worth a visit in themselves. They have lots of little shops, food markets, etc. Up-market home stores include Melin Tregynt (blankets, cushions and trinkets), and Banana Custard (for kids).

Queen St, St. Mary Street and The Hayes are the major pedestrianised shopping streets which all branch off the castle, so it is easy to walk from shop to shop without fear of traffic. Queen street has most of the usual lineup of Marks and Spencer, Top Shop and River Island. The Hayes has recently been refurbished along with the massive St Davids shopping center that has drawn in many big names such as Hugo Boss and the biggest John Lewis outside of London. Cardiff's original shopping street, St. Mary Street, has gradually declined, firstly after Queen street was pedestrianised when the street saw a shift towards restaurants, bars and clubs, and then during the year-long trial of closing the street to traffic. Thankfully St. Mary Street street is now pedestrianised for most of its length, with work still ongoing but it's worth a look as some of the city's grandest buildings are along its length with the large and oldest department store in Wales (Howells by House of Frasier), imposing entrance to the Central Market and elaborate entrances to the arcades being particular high points.

The Hayes has recently undergone a massive transformation, seeing the construction of the massive £675 million St David's shopping center extension, along with the largest John Lewis department store outside of London and a new public library well situated at the opposite end of the street to the original library, now known as the 'old library', soon to open as the Cardiff Museum. Here modern architecture contrasts beautifully with the historic shops and arcades on the opposite side of the street, which has quickly become the city's higher end of the market shopping street.

The Central Market is a must for anyone looking for a find whether it be arts, crafts, food, souvenirs or even pets.

Queen Street, St. Mary's Street and The Hayesare the main shopping streets in Cardiff city centre. Queen Street houses many stores with entrances to the modern St. David's and Queens Arcade shopping centers, which also have entrances on the Hayes. Combine the old St. David's shopping center, larger modern extension, John Lewis and Queens arcade and they make up the largest indoor shopping center in the UK. St. Mary Street is home to a large 'Howells' or House of Fraser store, numerous arcades that house one-off, independent shops with many of the arcades having entrances on the Hayes.

There are many tourist oriented shops in front of the Castle and inside the Arcades so have a look around where you can find many Welsh souvenirs and gifts.

Fish from Ashton's stall in the atmospheric indoor market, off the Hayes, Church Street or St Mary St.

Or... fish from Canale's on Llandaff Road in Canton.

Cheese from Madame Fromage in the Castle Arcade.

Spillers Records, the oldest record shop in the world, is in the Morgan Arcade. In addition to selling music, it is the city's main location for buying tickets for alternative music concerts. Spillers was founded in 1894 by Henry Spiller at its original location in Queen’s Arcade.

Eat

Eating in Cardiff has improved massively. It can be difficult to book a table in the better restaurants on a Friday or Saturday evening. As a rule of thumb Mermaid Quay and the city centre are jam packed full with a varied contrast of eateries allowing you to experience many different tastes within a small area, with further concentrations of eateries in Pontcanna and Roath.

Budget

There are lots of little Mom and Pop eateries with reasonable, plentiful and quite tasty takes on the Full English breakfast, sandwiches, fish and chips, etc.

Also, there is the Brewery Quarter, which contains a few well known and different restaurants including Cardiff's Hard Rock Café.

Vegetarians and vegans should head to Crumbs in Morgan Arcade for a great range of veggie and vegan food.

The Prince of Wales - a great city centre location offering great food all day at some good prices considering its very central location. This is a typical Wetherspoon pub.

Canteen on Clifton Street has built up a reputation for excellent vegetarian and vegan food at very reasonable prices. Their evening menu [30]changes every two weeks, with regular 'best of' menus chosen by their customers.[31] A good selection of vegan wines are available.[32] Only 10 minutes walk from the city centre. The No.12 Cardiff Bus passes their door. Closed Sunday and Monday.Tel: +44 29 2045 4999.

Mid-range

Cibo Italian Café, 83 Pontcanna Street (at the non-city-centre end of Cathedral Road), , ☎ +44 29 2023-2226. Great little café-restaurant with superb food. Can get busy, booking strongly recommended. Expect to spend about £8-12 for a main course.

Ichiban, 201 Cowbridge Rd E, T, ☎ +44 29 2066-8833. This is a wonderful Japanese restaurant offering excellent value noodle, curry and sushi dishes. There is one on Cowbridge Road, Canton and another on Albany Road, Roath. Both are a short bus or taxi ride from the city centre, or a 20-30 minute walk.

Tenkaichi, 236 City Rd, T, ☎ +44 78 3142-1199. Tenkaichi offers authentic Japanese food with a British flare. It is a great restaurant if you want fresh noodles and sushi. It also provides an extensive wine list.

The Goat Major, 33 High Street, , ☎ +44 29 2033-7161. This pub has some very good bar style food in an authentic Welsh atmosphere. Try the Welsh faggots (a type of meat ball) in peppercorn gravy.

Splurge

Le Gallois, 6-10 Romilly Cres, , ☎ +44 29 2034 1264. Roughly translated from French it means "The Welsh". This is a fantastic gourmet restaurant specialising in bringing Gallic flair to traditional Welsh food such as cockles and lavabread. Expect to pay somewhere around £40/person.

Tempus Restraunt, the luxury restraunt at the St David Hotel and Spa , ☎ +44 29 2045 4045. Amazing views all around Cardiff Bay, and serves a traditional freshly caught seafood. With drinks expect to pay between £40-60 per person.

Cafés

City Canteen & Bar, 1-2 Mount Stuart Square,, ☎ +44 29 2033-1020. City Canteen & Bar is a trendy bar. One can order a light lunch from the bar menu while listening to local DJs play music.

Drink

With more pubs per square foot than anywhere else in Britain, Cardiff is one of top nights out in the UK. It has many late night pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants. In the city centre, St Mary Street, Greyfriars Road and Mill Lane are especially lively and offer a variety of establishments to suit all tastes. Mermaid Quay is a lively, albeit smaller option to spend a warm summer night.

Cardiff is a place to drink, favoured by Stag and Hen Parties from all over the UK. St Mary St contains many pubs and clubs and becomes wild and exciting on Friday and Saturday nights. There are numerous clubs only a short walk from Central Station that are thumping into the wee hours. An extensive venue and events list, including gigs and live bands can be found at What's on in Cardiff [33] guide.

Y Mochyn Du, Sophia Close CF11, ☎+44 29 2037 1599, [3]. Y Mochyn Du is in Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna, by the Institute of Sport and Glamorgan's county cricket ground. One half is a traditional pub which has a good range of real ales, and the other side is mainly for bar food during the day. Due to it's location near the city centre, it's very busy during rugby and football internationals. The pub is also popular among the capital's sizable Welsh speaking community and all the bar staff are bilingual. On the last Sunday night of every month, there is a Welsh language pub quiz in association with Menter Caerdydd.

A Shot in the Dark, 12 City Rd, ☎ +44 29 2047 2300. Somewhere between a dimly lit bar and a chilled-out café, Has a certain joie de vivre in its unique atmosphere.

Sleep

Bear in mind it can be very difficult to find rooms available or within a sensible price when the Millennium Stadium is hosting events, especially when Wales play in rugby or football, so plan around the dates or plan early as it will be much cheaper.

The River House Backpackers, 59 Fitzhamon Embankment, Riverside, Cardiff, Wales, CF11 6AN, ☎+44 29 2039 9810, [5]. Excellent boutique hostel in central Cardiff just opposite Millenium Stadium. The dorms are neat and simple, bathrooms are nice and always kept clean. There is a common kitchen and eating area, as well as a TV and reading room. Free breakfast and wifi internet is included. The atmosphere is social but not too rowdy. Very hospitable owners and staff.Dorm beds around £18 per night.

Mid-range

Cardiff Marriott Hotel, Mill Ln, ☎ +44 29 2039-9944, [36] is within a block of the train station, right across from at least ten clubs. It has reasonably comfortable rooms (not yet with the Marriott upgraded beds). They have high speed internet connections in the rooms, but the fee is £15/day for the service. The staff is friendly and helpful. Also, they have a small multi-storey car park for the hotels guest.

Splurge

Cardiff Hilton, 1 Kingsway, ☎ +44 29 2064-6300. Kingsway. [40] This is the place for more upmarket stays. Situated right in front of the castle and offers nice views of the civic centre.

St. David's Hotel and Spa, Havannah S, ☎ +44 29 2045-4045. A really great stay for those who want that little bit extra. Fronting the bay it offers spectacular scenery and is little more than 5 minutes away from the cosmopolitan bay area. Built and originally operated by the Rocco Forte Group, it was sold in 2006 to the Principal Hayley Group.

Park Inn Cardiff North Circle Way East Llanedeyrn, [41], ☎ +44 29 2058 9988. A quiet location with easy access to the lively city centre and prime attractions, such as Cardiff Bay, Cardiff Castle and the Millennium Stadium.

University of South Wales, [45]. The university has a large new campus in Cardiff city centre focusing on the media, broadcasting and the creative industries.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, [46]. Focusing on music and drama.

Stay safe

Cardiff is quite a safe city, and certainly safer than most other major cities in the UK. Cardiff seems not to be plagued with a prominent red light district akin to many of the similarly-sized cities in England. However, areas such as Ocean Way, adjacent to the magic roundabout, may be wise to avoid in the nights and early evenings in winter, as the area is known for prostitution. Anyone caught curb crawling is likely to be stopped and questioned by police, although more often than not, you will just be told to move on.

Get out

The Vale of Glamorgan, to the southwest of Cardiff contains the Victorian seaside towns of Penarth and Barry. Cowbridge is a picturesque town to the west. St Donat's Castle is one such attraction, a well-preserved 15th C. fortfied house, with additions over the centuries. Fonmon Castle is also impressive, while ruined Ogmore has a lovely setting. Comeston Lakes is another beautiful place, with a well maintained country park.

The superb Glamorgan Heritage Coast, around 10 mi west of Cardiff, stretching from Llantwit Major to Ogmore-by-Sea, the majestic liassic/carboniferous cliffs provide sparkling views across the Bristol channel, and the small little back roads (particularly the road to ogmore-by-sea) provide some of the most spectacular driving routes in Wales.

Try taking the train to Newport, and then a bus to Caerleon and visiting the Roman amphitheatre there. It is quite well preserved and gives a real feel for how the Romans would have used the space.

It is possible to visit Hereford as a day trip, using either train or auto.

Media

The Western Mail, based in Cardiff, and distributed throughout Wales.

South Wales Echo is the newspaper from and for Cardiff.

'"Capital FM'" The main local radio station for Cardiff and surrounding areas, providing listeners with up-to-date news, local information, as well as chart and contemporary music along with entertainment for under 44s. Based in the Red Dragon Centre.

Nation Radio 106.8 & 107.3 FM. Local Rock radio station, with news and weather a nice refreshing change from the main stream stations.

Gold. Aims at an older audience than Red Dragon FM and also covers the same area.